Freesat is a system whereby the main Free To Air Channels pay for a fixed EPG slot and have associated with them 7 full days Programme Info and features permitting easy recording (like Sky+) with PVR enabled Receivers.
Freesat Receivers also have a non-Freesat mode which enables all available Free To Air Channels to be received, but with Now & Next EPG Data only. They can, as with a generic FTA Receiver, be put in any order you like.
The Channels Ralph refers to above that are Encrypted are not Freesat Channels, but FreesatfromSky Channels! So there is indeed confusion - the unfortunate use of the term Freesat by BSkyB! On there, there are a handful of Channels which are Scrambled but don't require Subscription (often referred to as FTV or Free To View). Any valid Sky Viewing Card permits getting them.
But going back to Freesat itself, which is run by a consortium led by BBC/ITV, everything on there is Free To Air and requires no Card. Five is available and does not require a Card ............. there are Encrypted versions of Five, used by BSkyB, but fortunately there is an FTA version that was introduced especially for Freesat.
So don't worry - Freesat gets you all BBC, all ITV, all Channel 4 (apart from HD, but that appears to be "coming soon"), Five (but not Five US or Fiver) plus many more.
As you are in South Africa, a Freesat Receiver is no use to you anyway, as it refers primarily to 28E. Some Freesat Receivers have DiSEqC and multi-sat features, but the Freesat EPG is obviously not available off 28E and what you basically have left is just a generic FTA Receiver.
